ABSTRACT

This study investigated the concentration of P AHs bioaccumulation in soil and selected commonly consumed fruits; orange(Citrus sinensis), pawpaw(Carica papaya),star apple(Chrysophyllum albidum),vegetables; fluted pumpkin(Te{feria occidentalis),waterleaf(Talinum triangulare), bitter leaf(Vemocia amygdalina),tubers; yam(Dioscorea spp.)cassava(Manihot esculenta),cocoyam(Colocacia

antiquorum),nuts;coconut(Cocos nucifera),palm kernel nut(Cola acuminate),and kolanut(Cola acuminate) collected from an industrialized site located at Osisioma Ngwa in Aba, Abia State Nigeria. PAH are organic compounds formed by two or more fused aromatic rings originating from natural and anthropogenic sources, such as incomplete combustions, industrial incinerations, transport, or controlled spills. Twelve selected food crops and soil were analyzed and the concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined .The total concentration of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was found to be 59.32 mg/kg and 13.00mg/kg dry weight in analyzed food samples and soil respectively. The highest level of total PAHs was detected in star apple whereas the lowest concentration was found in cassava. Yarn, cocoyam, coconut, kola nut and pawpaw were below detection limit Fruits and vegetables may have high affinity for a variety of PAHs compared to tubers and nuts .The average values for the estimated daily intake of B(a)p» across age groups were significantly above the DPR intervention limit of 0.01. The LMWPAH/HMW-PAH ratios observed from this study was <1 indicating the prevalence of high molecular weight PAHs. Although, average values for LCRS for all population groups were less than limits set by US EPA(ILCR<106 ). PAHs are generally classified as low molecular weight PAHs (LMWPAHs,2-and 3- rings PAHs) and Large molecular weight PAHs(HMW-PAHs,4-6 rings PAHs). The LMWPAH/HMW-PAH ratio observed in this study was<l suggesting that PAHs were mainly from non-petrogenic sources and thus reflecting the type of human activities in these areas like burning of residues.